{{short description|Swedish black metal band}} {{Refimprove|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Lord Belial | caption = | image_size = | background = group_or_band | origin = Trollhättan, Sweden | genre = Black metal <br> Melodic black metal <br> Blackened death metal | years_active = 1992–2009, 2010–2011, 2013–2015, 2020–present | label = No Fashion, Metal Blade, Regain, Dozer, Hammerheart Records | associated_acts = | website = {{URL|https://lordbelial.net/}} | current_members = * Thomas Backelin * Micke Backelin * Niclas Pepa Green | past_members = }}

'''Lord Belial''' is a Swedish black metal band formed in Trollhättan in 1992.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/articles.aspx?id=2-4010|title=CoC : Lord Belial - Nocturnal Beast : Review|website=Chroniclesofchaos.com|accessdate=7 October 2020}}</ref>

==History== The band formed in 1992 and released their debut album in 1995; placing them among the pioneers of Swedish black metal.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}} Their sound has been compared with bands such as Dissection.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showreview.php?id=9339&lang=en|title=Lord Belial - Revelation &#124; Review &#124; Lords Of Metal metal E-zine - issue 69<!-- Bot generated title -->|website=Lordsofmetal.nl|accessdate=7 October 2020}}</ref> In January 2009, they stopped all their activities, the main reason being the growing hearing problem of their drummer, Micke Backelin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=41414 |title=Lord Belial Calls It Quits |publisher=www.metalunderground.com |date= 13 January 2009 |access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref>

Despite an announcement in July 2010 that the band was working on new material, about one year later they announced on their official website and on Twitter that "Lord Belial are not active. No album or gigs are planned for the moment. No interviews will be answered."<ref>[https://twitter.com/lordbelialband/status/106768615491121152 Lord Belial inactive], twitter.com, Retrieved 2011-08-30</ref> In 2013 the only members remaining are Thomas Backelin and Micke Backelin. Live session musicians are Fredrik Wester on guitars, and Adam Chapman on bass.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}

Lord Belial returned to touring in 2014 with performances at the Mörkaste Småland Festival. Lord Belial has continued touring and announced their tour schedule for 2020 and 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.songkick.com/artists/307317-lord-belial|title=Lord Belial|website=Songkick.com|accessdate=7 October 2020}}</ref> The band signed with Hammerheart Records in May 2021, and released ''Rapture'', their first studio album in 14 years, in May 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=42084|title=Lord Belial - Ink Deal With Hammerheart Records|publisher=Metal Storm|access-date=May 21, 2021|date=May 21, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=44145|title=Lord Belial - Upcoming Album Title Unveiled|publisher=Metal Storm|access-date=November 28, 2021|date=November 22, 2021}}</ref>

== Members == === Current === * Thomas Backelin - guitars, vocals * Micke Backelin - drums * Niclas "Pepa" Green - guitars

=== Live 2013 === * Fredrik Wester - guitars * Adam Chapman - bass

=== Former, session === * Anders Backelin - bass * Daniel "Mojjo" Moilanen - drums * Fredrik "Plague" Wester - guitars (2000, 2002) * Hjalmar Nielsen - guitars * Jenny "Lilith" Andersson - flute (1993–1999 and ''Kiss the Goat'') * Cecilia Sander - flute (''Into the Frozen Shadows'' and ''Angelgrinder'') * Catharina Jacobsson - flute (''Enter the Moonlight Gate'') * Annelie Jacobsson - flute (''Unholy Crusade'') * Jelena Almvide - cello (''Enter the Moonlight Gate'' and ''Unholy Crusade'')

== Discography == * ''Kiss the Goat'' (1995) * ''Enter the Moonlight Gate'' (1997) * ''Unholy Crusade'' (1999) * ''Angelgrinder'' (2002) * ''Doomed by Death'' (Split, 2002) * ''Purify Sweden'' (Single, 2003) * ''Scythe of Death'' (EP, 2003) * ''The Seal of Belial'' (2004) * ''Nocturnal Beast'' (2005) * ''Revelation'' (2007) * ''The Black Curse'' (2008) * ''Rapture'' (2022) * ''Unholy Trinity'' (2025)

=== Videography === * ''Night Divine'' (VHS, 2001) * ''Mark of the Beast'' (DVD, 2004)

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{official website}} * {{Metal Archives|1052}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Swedish black metal musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1992 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2009 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2010 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2011 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2013 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2015 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2020 Category:Musical groups from Västra Götaland County Category:Culture in Trollhättan